At least six killed, 21 injured in Chaman blast

CHAMAN: At least six people have been killed and 21 others sustained wounds when a blast ripped through the Chaman’s Mall Road area on Monday, ARY News reported.

According to police, the bomb was planted in a motorbike and detonated by remote control. Police inspector Muhammad Mohsin said that the explosion targetted a vehicle of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF).

A medical officer said that out of the 21 injured, 12 of them are in a critical condition. “We have shifted the seriously wounded to Quetta due to closure of operation theatre in Chaman amid coronavirus pandemic,” he said.

The hospital sources said that the operation theatre of the district headquarters (DHQ) hospital was shut due to coronavirus. “Even the X-Ray machine at the hospital was outdated, resulting in carrying out x-rays privately,” they said.

They said that even the emergency department, which is still operating during the pandemic, only provided the first-aid facility and lamented that most of the patients die while being shifted to Quetta for better health facilities.

Law enforcement agencies reached the spot and have cordoned off the area. The rescue officials shifted the injured to a nearby hospital for medical treatment and formalities.

Meanwhile, officials of bomb disposable squad rushed to the spot and started gathering exploded fragments to ascertain the intensity of the explosion.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, in a statement, has strongly condemned the Chaman blast and expressed grief over the loss of lives. He prayed for the early recovery of those injured.

Following the incident, the Balochistan Chief Minister, Jam Kamal Khan, also condemned the attack and directed authorities concerned to leave no stone unturned in providing the best healthcare facilities to the injured.

Earlier on July 21, at least one person was killed and seven others sustained injuries as bomb blast ripped through a market in Turbat, Balochistan.

According to the Police, an improvised explosive device (IED) was planted in a motorcycle parked outside a shop in Turbat Bazar.